SCIENCE CHINA

Technological Sciences
• RESEARCH PAPER • January 2012 Vol.55 No.1: 163–173
doi: 10.1007/s11431-011-4646-z

Wind energy and wave energy resources assessment in the East

China Sea and South China Sea
ZHENG ChongWei1,2*, ZHUANG Hui1, LI Xin3 & LI XunQiang1
1
Institute of Meteorology in Science and Technology University of PLA, Nanjing 211101, China;
2
Unit 12 No. 92538 of PLA, Dalian 116041, China;
3
Unit No. 92962 of PLA, Guangzhou 510320, China

Received August 5, 2011; accepted October 12, 2011; published online November 27, 2011

In this paper, the third-generation wave model WAVEWATCH-III (WW3) was used to simulate the wave field of the East
China Sea and South China Sea from January 1988 to December 2009, with wind input of CCMP wind field. Then, the wind
energy density and wave energy density were calculated by using the simulated 22-years’ wave-field data and CCMP data. By
synthetically considering the size of energy density, the frequency of energy level and the stability of energy density, the re-
sources of wind energy and wave energy in the East China Sea and South China Sea were analyzed and regionalized. The re-
sult can be a guide to searching location of wind & wave power plant.

East China Sea and South China Sea, wind energy resources, wave energy resources, power plant location

Citation: Zheng C W, Zhuang H, Li X, et al. Wind energy and wave energy resources assessment in the East China Sea and South China Sea. Sci China Tech
Sci, 2012, 55: 163173, doi: 10.1007/s11431-011-4646-z

1 Introduction nobyl nuclear power plant leakage in April 1986 which was
caused by operational errors. Meanwhile, ocean energy and
offshore wind energy have advantage in safe, non-polluting,
In a world seriously perplexed by environment, resources
renewable, large reserves and wide distribution. But their
and energy crisises, people are forced to focus on new en-
instability increases difficulties in exploitation and the
ergy sources, especially the large amount of ocean energy
utilization of both, therefore the two types of energy remain
and offshore wind energy. There is no doubt that it is the
in the primary stage. Wave power generation is the main
best choice in response to climate change and the shortage
mode of exploitation and utilization of wave energy, more-
of conventional energy, which is also one of the common
over, it can also be used for desalination, heating, pumping
strategies that every country has adopted. At present, al-
and so on. Current offshore wave power equipment can of-
though the utilization and development of solar energy and
fer power for mariculture, offshore weather buoys, oil plat-
wind energy have been gradually industrialized, it is re-
forms, offshore lighthouses and remote islands. Similarly,
stricted by region severely; nuclear energy can provide huge
offshore wind resource has more advantages than that of
power, whereas the harm is huge. It can be greatly affected
land [1, 2]. Similarly, offshore wind power plant can pro-
by natural hazards and human deed, and, if slip a cog, the
vide electrical supplement for ocean vessel [3] and can be
aftermath would be very serious. Such as the nuclear leak-
incorporated in city power grid, too. Today, wave&wind
age caused by Japan Tsunami in March 2011 and the Cher-
power generation is also the hotspot that developed coun-
tries are focusing on [4, 5]. In January 2011, the only
*Corresponding author (email: zhengzhang.xia@163.com) high-tech production that British introduced when China’s

© Science China Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011 tech.scichina.com www.springerlink.com
164 Zheng C W, et al. Sci China Tech Sci
vice premier visited England was wave power generation.
China has more than 3 million km3 of ocean territory
with many islands, some have people on them. These is-
lands, which are far away from the mainland, are in short of
energy. This situation restricts economic and military ac-
tivities seriously. The coastal areas of China are economi-
cally developed areas. Their GDP accounts for 70% of the
nation, while electricity consumption accounts for more
than 50% [6]. The total energy consumption (including re-
newable energy) of China in 2009 equals 2.252 billion tons
of crude oil, making China the largest energy consumption
country [7]. Now, the choke point of energy has become a
serious problem restricting the sustained and rapid devel-
opment of coastal areas, especially in recent years. In order
to maintain coastal energy supply, China took multi-meth-
ods, such as, ‘west power to east’, ‘west gas to east’, nu-
clear power station etc. to solve this problem. Even so, the
power supply remains a big gap. Thus, exerting the coastal
resources advantage of renewable energy, implementing
wave power and offshore wind power not only have practi-
cal economic and social significance, but also have signifi-
cant military value. Today, the U.S. Navy has already been
succeeded in carrying out an experiment to generate elec-
tricity by using wave energy buoy, and is planning to charge
underwater vehicles such as UUV, AUV which are execut-
ing missions in high seas by wave power plant that cannot
be discovered, even planning to establish underwater charge
station for conventional submarines and other underwater
vehicles, so that they would never need to rise to surface.
Previous studies have played a significant role in pro-
moting the development and utilization of offshore wind
and wave energy resources. But still, because of the limita-
tion of data resource, few study with high precision, high
resolution, long time scale has been carried out. Say nothing
of that using numerical simulation results. This paper at-
tempted to assess the East China Sea and South China Sea’s
wind energy by using CCMP wind field data and WW3
wave model driven by CCMP wind field and systematically
studied the wind energy, wave energy in aspects of energy
density, energy frequency, the stability and trend of energy
density and so on. Though wind energy regionalization has
extended technical specifications to refer to, wave energy
has not done that. Referring to wind energy specification,
this paper defined wave energy resource regionalization
standard, regionalized the East China Sea and South China
Sea’s wind energy and wave energy and made suggestions
of locations for offshore power station, wave power station
and the joint power station of wind and wave.
2 Data introduction
2.1 Wind field data
The CCMP wind field data come from ESE (NASA Earth
January (2012) Vol.55 No.1
Science Enterprise), combining several kinds of data such
as ADEOS-II (Advanced Earth Observing Satellite, 2nd
Generation), QuikSCAT, TRMM TMI (Tropical Rainfall
Measuring Mission Microwave Imager), SSM/I (Special
Sensor Microwave Imager) and AMSR-E (Advanced Mi-
crowave Scanning Radiometer-Earth Observing System).
The data are derived from variation method, with time
resolution being 6 h and space resolution 0.25°×0.25°, time
range from July 1987 to December 2009 and space range of
78.375°S–78.375°N, 0.125°E–359.875°E. In this paper,
CCMP wind field data have high accuracy and spatial reso-
lution [8–10].
2.2 Measured wave data
With the development of ocean remote sensing technology,
the Significant Wave Height (SWH) retrieved by satellite
data has been close to the buoy observations, with errors
less than 10% [11]. This article took the SWH retrieved by
satellite data as measurements, compared it with the simu-
lated SWH, which is also proved and widely used by previ-
ous studies [11–13]. Jason-1 is the follow-up satellite of
TOPEX/Poseidon (T/P). T/P was launched by United States
and France in August 11, 1992, which was mainly used for
the study of global circulation as the new generation of sat-
ellite altimeter, and began to collect data from September 23,
1992. And Jason-1, successfully launched on December 7,
2001 in California, is the first marine long-term observation
satellite which can measure marine elements such as the
global sea level, sea surface wind speed and SWH. The data
cover space 66°S–66°N, and orbital altitude is 1336 km,
with repeat ground track error range of ± 1 km and orbital
repeat cycle of 9.915 days. By using echo signal strength
and delayed time, the information of sea surface wind speed
(scalar field, excluding wind direction) and SWH was ac-
quired.
3 The East China Sea and South China Sea wave
field simulation
3.1 Method of simulation
WW3 is the third generation of full-spectrum space wave
model under the framework of the WAM, developed by the
marine simulation team of NOAA/NCEP Environmental
Simulation Center. Studies proved it to have a good ability
to simulate wave field in the East China Sea and South
China Sea [11–14]. So, in this paper, WW3 was used to
simulate wave field in the East China Sea and South China
Sea from January 1988 to December 2009.
Range selected for model calculation was 0°–41°N,
97°E–135°E, with 24×25 wave spectrum grids, 24 wave
directions and 25 frequency bands which range from 0.0418
Hz to 0.4056 Hz with a relationship.
 Zheng C W, et al.
The spatial resolution took 0.25°×0.25°. Time step took
900 s, the simulated wave field exports every three hours,
and the calculation time is from 00:00 on January 1, 1988 to
18:00 on December 31, 2009.
3.2 Data validation
WW3 model was once used by Zhou [12] to calculate the
wave field of the South China Sea from 1976 to 2005,
compared it to a large number of T/P altimeter data and part
of the typhoon data, calculation result was found better. Qi
et al. [11] once used WW3 model to simulate wave field in
the South China Sea Simulation in 1996 and found that the
simulated SWH was almost consistent with that retrieved by
satellite altimeter. Zheng [14] once used WW3 to simulate
one typhoon process in the East China Sea and South China
Sea with WW3 model, and good results was obtained. Zhou
et al. [13] once simulated three cold air progresses by WW3
model, founding that the simulated SWH had a good
agreement with that observed by Jason-1 satellite altimeter.
As discussed above, previous studies show that WW3
model has a good ability to simulate the wave in the East
China Sea and South China Sea. So, in this paper, a typhoon
progress and a cold air progress were selected randomly as
data validation. Comparing the simulated SWH to that re-
trieved by satellite altimeter, good results were achieved.
The specific verification process was presented in another
article1).
4 Assessment of wind energy and wave energy
in the East China Sea and South China Sea
Power generation is the main mode to utilize wind energy
and wave energy. Power generation is generally divided
into two important aspects: power collecting; power con-
version. There are usually two effective ways to enhance
efficiency of energy collection: first, increase the ability of
power generation devices to capture the energy; second, get
the energy distribution of the selected areas and select the
advantage region where the energy is rich and stable. With
consideration of the size of the energy density, energy level
frequency and the stability and trend of energy density to-
gether, the wind and wave energy resources in the East
China Sea and South China Sea were studied and regional-
ized in this paper.
4.1 Calculation methods of energy density
4.1.1 Calculation method of wind energy density
Wind energy density is defined as the power on the unit
section perpendicular to wind flow. Its arithmetic is
1) Zheng C W. Wave energy resources analysis in the China Sea. Accepted by Periodical of Ocean University of China.
Sci China Tech Sci January (2012) Vol.55 No.1 165
1
W V 3 . (1)
2
In eq. (1), W is wind power density (unit: W m2), V is wind
velocity (unit: m s1), and  is air density (unit: kg m3), this
paper takes 1.292 kg m3 as the air density of sea surface in
China’s coastal waters. Every 6 hours wind density in the
East China Sea and South China Sea in recent 22 years was
calculated with every 6 hours CCMP wind field data from
00:00 on January 1, 1988 to 18:00 on December 31, 2009.
4.1.2 Calculation method of wave energy density
By using WW3 model, Roger [15] successfully predicted
the wave energy density on the east coast of the Pacific
Ocean in 2009. According to Roger’s Calculation method,
the wave energy density in the East China Sea and South
China Sea was calculated in this paper.
Pw  0.42  H12/ 3  Tp or Pw  0.5  H12/ 3  T , (2)
where Pw is wave energy density (unit: kW m1), H1/3 is
SWH (unit: m), Tp is spectrum peak cycle (unit: s), T is
average cycle, and Tp  1.2T . Eqs. (1) and (2) above are
also the algorithms of wave energy resources assessment in
EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute), U.S.A. [16]. With
every 3 hours’ wave field data simulated, every 3 hours
wave energy density in the East China Sea and South China
Sea in recent 22 years was calculated.
4.2 Seasonal figures of wind and wave energy densities
The seasonal characters of wind and wave energy densities
were analyzed, selecting January, April, July, October as the
representative months for DJF (December, January, Febru-
ary), MAM (March, April, May), JJA (June, July, August),
SON (September, October, November).
The 264 times of monthly mean wind energy density
were obtained by monthly equalizing every 6 hours wind
energy density from January 1988 to December 2009. Then
22 January monthly average wind energy density was de-
rived by equalizing all the 22 January monthly wind energy
density. At the same time, 22-years average of wind energy
density in April, July and October was obtained by the same
method. At last, the yearly average wind energy density was
derived by equalizing 264 times monthly average wind en-
ergy.
January, April, July, October wave energy densities and
annual average wave energy density are calculated in the
same way of the wind energy density calculation.
January, April, July, October wind energy density distri-
butions and annual average wind energy density distribution
in the East China Sea and South China Sea for recent 22
years are shown in Figures 1(a)–1(e).
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January (2012) Vol.55 No.1

Figure 1 Characteristics of wind energy density in January (a), April (b), July (c), October (d) and annual (e) in the East China Sea and South China Sea (units: W m2); characteristics of wave energy den-
sity in January (f), April (g), July (h), October (i) and annual (j) in the East China Sea and South China Sea (units: kW m1).
 Zheng C W, et al. Sci China Tech Sci
In January, wind energy density is the maximum of the
year, with big value region located in the line of Ryukyu
Islands-Luzon Strait-Pullo Secca de Mare (southeast of
South Peninsula), appearing in NE-SW direction,. The two
big value centers are located in Luzon Strait and Pullo
Secca de Mare, where the wind energy density can reach to
500–900 W m2. This distribution character may be due to
the activity of cold air during DJF, which often brings big
wind.
In April, wind energy density is the minimum of the year.
The big value areas are located in the region of Ryukyu
Islands-Luzon Strait and the Taiwan Strait, where the wind
energy density can reach to 200 W m2 or more, with the
rest area between 50–200 W m2. This distribution character
may be due to that the cold air strength has been greatly
weakened, while the southwest monsoon has not yet formed,
and wind velocity is small (see Figure 1(b)).
In July, southwest monsoon is popular, and the big value
of wind energy density is located at southeast of the Indo-
china Peninsula (the traditional wind zone in the South
China Sea), where the value can reach to 350 W/m2 or more.
The second largest value area is located at east of Taiwan
Island, about 200–200 W m2.
In October, the big value of wind energy density isdistrib-
uted in the waters surrounding Taiwan Island, and two large
value centers are located in the Taiwan Strait (about 700– 900
W m2) and the Luzon Strait (about 700–800 W m2).
In the view of the distribution feature of the annual av-
erage wind energy density, the density in most of China’s
sea waters is over 100 W m2, with the big value area lo-
cated in the line of Ryukyu Islands-Luzon Strait -Pullo
Secca de Mare, almost over 300 W m2.
The distribution characters of average wave energy den-
sity in January, April, July, October and annual average in
recent 22 years in the East China Sea and South China Sea
are consistent with thoset of wind energy, shown in Fig-
ures 1(f)–1(j).
4.3 Energy level frequency of wind and wave energies
In assessment of wind energy and wave energy resources,
the frequency of different energy levels is an important cri-
terion to measure the rich degree of energy. Generally, wind
energy is considered as available area when the wind energy
density is greater than 50 W m2, while rich area is greater
than 200 W m2 [17]; and wave energy is available when its
density is greater than 2 kW m1 [18, 19], while the region
where density is greater than 20 kW m1 is considered as
rich area [20], such as the North Sea in Europe.
With every 6 hours wind energy density and every 3
hours wave energy density, the frequencies of wind energy
density greater than 50W m2 and wave energy density
greater than 2 kW m1 in January, April, July, October and
the average of 22 years are stated in Figure 2.
January (2012) Vol.55 No.1 167
In January, the high frequency waters where wind energy
density is greater than 50 W m2 occupy most of the East
China Sea and South China Sea, reaching 80% or more. It is
relatively low in Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea, but can also
reach to 50%–70%. The high frequency waters where wave
energy density is greater than 2 kW m1 is concentrated in
the South China Sea and surrounding Taiwan Island, reach-
ing to 90% or more, while the frequencies of Yellow Sea
and the East China Sea are relatively low, with the frequen-
cies above 40%. But the frequency of Bohai Sea is the low-
est, below 20%.
In April, the frequency of wind energy density is the
lowest in the year, but can also reach to above 50%, with
the high frequency centers located in the waters near Ryu-
kyu Islands (60%–70%) and at the east and southeast of
Hainan Islands (70%–80%); and the high frequency areas of
wave energy density above 2 kW m1 are located in Ryukyu
Islands and the northern South China Sea, where the fre-
quency is greater than 50%. It is the lowest in Bohai Sea
and northern South China Sea, almost below 10%. In East
China Sea, the frequency is 20%–40%. In middle and
southern South China Sea, it is about 20%–50%.
In July, the high frequency centers where the wind en-
ergy density is above 50 W m2 are located in the wind zone
of southeast of the Indochina Peninsula (70%–80%), the
east and southeast of Yangtze Estuary (above 70%); and the
frequency of wave energy density above 2 kW m1 is
greater than 50%, while the frequencies in Bohai Sea and
north of the South China Sea are relatively low, 5%–30% in
the central and southern Yellow Sea.
In October, the distribution features of wind energy den-
sity above 50 W m2 are consistent with those of wave en-
ergy density above 2 kW m1, with the big value area lo-
cated at the waters surrounding Taiwan Island and the fre-
quency over 80%.
From the total frequency of view, the frequencies of
wind energy density over 50 W m2 in the East China Sea
and South China Sea are basically above 70%, while about
20%–60% in the central and south of the Yellow Sea and
below 20% in the Bohai Sea and northern Yellow Sea; and
the frequencies of wave energy density greater than 2 kW
m1 in the East China Sea and South China Sea are almost
above 50%, with the high frequency centers located in the
east ocean of Taiwan Island and the northern South China
Sea where the frequencies can reach to 70% or more.
Meanwhile, the frequencies in central and south waters of
the Yellow Sea are about 20%–50% and in the Bohai Sea
and the northern Yellow Sea are below 20% (Figure 2).
4.4 Stability of wind energy density and wave energy
density
Andrew [21] and Wang [22] pointed out that the dispersion
of data need to be considered in the assessment of selecting
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January (2012) Vol.55 No.1

Figure 2 Frequencies of wind energy density greater than 50 W m2 in January (a), April (b), July (c), October (d) and all year (e), unit:%; frequencies of wave energy density greater than 2 kW m1 in
January (f), April (g), July (h), October (i) and all year (j), unit: %.
 Zheng C W, et al. Sci China Tech Sci
location for wave power. Stable energy density is conducive
to wave energy collection and conversion, extending the life
of power generation equipment; while in the instable situa-
tion it will not only reduce the conversion efficiency, but
also may cause damage to, and even destruct the power de-
vices. And the stability of wind energy density also needs to
be considered in the development process of wind energy.
By calculating the variation coefficient of wind energy den-
sity and wave energy density in different months with
0.25°×0.25° each grid in the East China Sea and South
China Sea, the stability of wind and wave energies (i.e. the
degree of dispersion) is judged in this paper that the smaller
the variation coefficient, the better stability of the energy
density. The arithmetic of variation coefficient is as follows:
S winds and large waves.
Cv = , (3)
x In October, the areas where the stability of wind density
where Cv is variation coefficient, x is the mean value, and
S is the standard deviation:
2 and between 1.0 and 1.5 in the East China Sea, 1.5–2.0 in
n
 n 
 xi 2    xi  / n
 i 1 
S  i 1 . (4)
n 1
With every 6 hours wind energy density in January from
1988 to 2009, the stability of wind energy density in Janu-
ary in recent 22 years was calculated, and that of April, July
and October was calculated in the same way.
The arithmetic of the stability of wave energy density re-
fers to that of wind energy density.
As Figure 3 shows, in January, April, July and October,
the stability of wind energy density is totally better than that
of wave energy density, and the stability of wind and wave
energy densities in July is the worst of the year.
In January, the regions where the stability of wind energy
density is relatively good are located in the South China Sea
and waters surrounding Taiwan Island, with the variation
coefficient almost less than 1.0, and that of the Yellow Sea
and East China Sea basically between 1.0 and 1.5. The sta-
bility of the Bohai Sea is relatively poor, with the variation
coefficient greater than 1.5; and the area where the wave
energy density is stable is located in the waters surrounding
Taiwan Island and the northern South China Sea, with the
variation coefficient below 1.0. And the variation coeffi-
cient is basically between 1.0 and 1.5 in western East China
Sea and South China Sea. The stability in the Bohai Sea and
waters surrounding the Korean Peninsula is poor, where the
variation coefficient is greater than 1.5, even above 2.0 in
the Bohai Sea.
In April, the variation coefficient of wind energy density
in most of the East China Sea and South China Sea is less
than 1.5, with the relatively large area located in the western
waters of Luzon islands, the southern South China Sea and
the waters near the Korean Peninsula; while the stability of
January (2012) Vol.55 No.1 169
wave energy in the north and east ocean of Taiwan Island,
and the stability in the central of South China Sea are rela-
tively poor, with the variation coefficient above 2.0, show-
ing zonal distribution, and it is basically between 1.5 and
2.0 in most of the rest area.
In July, the stability of wind and wave energy densities is
the worst of the year. The waters with worse stability of
wind energy are located in the east ocean of Taiwan Island,
while the stability of wave energy in the wide range of wa-
ters surrounding Taiwan Island, and the stability of both
wind and wave energy densities in the South China Sea is
better than that of east ocean of Taiwan Island, which is
possibly due to that the South China Sea is affected by sta-
ble southwest monsoon while the east ocean of Taiwan Is-
land has more tropical cyclones, often bringing strong
is better are located in the northern South China Sea and the
Taiwan Strait, with the variation coefficient less than 1.0.
However, it is about 1.5 in most of the South China Sea,
the Yellow Sea. The stability in the Bohai Sea is the worst,
over 2.0; and the distribution features of the density of wave
energy stability are almost consistent with those of wind
energy density.
4.5 The year-by-year linear trend of wind energy den-
sity and wave energy density
By averaging the wind energy density and wave energy
density of the East China Sea and South China Sea at each
grid point year by year and taking the method of linear re-
gression [23], the linear trend of the wind energy density and
wave energy density was analyzed. As shown in Figure 4, the
shadow represents the regions that pass 95% confidence
level test and increasing trend is significant.
The linear trend of wind energy density is: during the
past 22 years, wind energy density in most of the East China
Sea and South China Sea appeared a significant linear in-
creasing trend year by year, only a few scattered waters did
not change significantly. The increasing trends in the Yel-
low Sea, Bohai Sea and most of East China Sea are 5–
30 W m2 a1, with the rest waters about 0–5 W m2 a1, the
Taiwan Strait (about 15–30 W m2 a1), the Luzon Strait
(about 10 W m2 a1) and the Tsushima Strait (about
10 W m2 a1), as shown in Figure 4(a).
The linear trend of wave energy density is: during the
past 22 years, wave energy density in most of the East China
Sea and South China Sea appeared a significant linear in-
creasing trend year by year, about 0.05–0.55 kW m1 a1. The
areas where the increasing trend was strong were concen-
trated in the region of Ryukyu Islands-Luzon Strait, about
0.35–0.55 kW m1 a1, with the center of big value located
in the southwest of Luzon Strait, reaching to 0.45–
0.55 kW m1 a1.
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January (2012) Vol.55 No.1

Figure 3 Coefficients of variation of wind energy density in January (a), April (b), July (c), October (d) in the East China Sea and South China Sea; coefficients of variation of wave energy density in
January (e), April (f), July (g), October (h) in the East China Sea and South China Sea.
 Zheng C W, et al. Sci China Tech Sci January (2012) Vol.55 No.1 171

Figure 4 Increasing tendency of wind energy density (a) and wave energy density (b) in the East China Sea and South China Sea during the last 22 years,
with the areas passing 95% confidence level test (shaded).

In conclusion, the significant increasing trends of both
wind energy density and wave energy density are very
beneficial to the development and utilization of offshore
wind energy and wave energy resources.
4.6 Effective time of wind energy and wave energy re-
sources development
The effective time of wind energy development [17] is de-
fined as the cumulative time that wind velocity is between 3
m s1–25 m s1.
However, the effective time of wave energy development
has not been defined by far. Referring to the defined method
of wind energy, the effective time of wave energy develop-
ment is defined in this paper. As some excellent devices of
wave power can produce power when the wave is higher
than 0.5 m at present, the effective time of wave energy
development is defined as the cumulative time when the
wave height is over 0.5 m [24].
According to the zoning standards and the definition, the
effective time of wind energy and wave energy resources
development in the East China Sea and South China Sea in
recent 22 years was stated by using every 6 hours CCMP
wind field data and every 3 hours simulated wave data from
00:00 on January 1, 1988 to 18:00 on December 31, 2009.
4.7 Zoning of wind energy and wave energy resources
At present, the technology of onshore wind power has ma-
tured, according to relevant national technical regulations
[25] and the classification criteria for wind energy by DEO
(U.S. Department of Energy), wind energy can be divided
into poor areas, available areas, relatively rich areas and
rich areas (Table 1). Referring to the zoning standards for
onshore wind energy resources, the offshore wind energy in
the East China Sea and South China Sea was regionalized in
this paper (Figure 5(a)).
Though there exist technical specifications for wind
zoning, the development and utilization of wave energy
resources are at an early stage, a zoning standard has not yet
been formed. Referring to the zoning standard of wind en-
ergy, that of the wave energy was preliminarily defined in
this paper (Table 2), and the wave energy resources in the
East China Sea and South China Sea were regionalized

Table 1 Wind energy division

Annual average wind Annual average wind energy Significant Wind energy
Grade
speed (m s1) density (W m2) interval (h) regionalized
1 0–4.4 <50 <2000 indigent area
2 4.4–5.1 50–150 2000–3000 available area
3 5.1–5.6 150–200 3000–5000 subrich area
4 5.6–6 200–250
5 6–6.4 250–300
>5000 rich area
6 6.4–7 300–400
7 7–9.4 400–1000
172 Zheng C W, et al. Sci China Tech Sci January (2012) Vol.55 No.1

Table 2 Wave energy division

Annual average Annual average wave energy Significant Wave energy

Grade
SWH (m) density (kW m1) interval (h) regionalized
1 0–0.5 <1 <2000 indigent area
2 0.5–1.5 1-6 2000–3000 available area
3 1.5–2.5 6-15 3000–5000 subrich area
4 >2.5 >15 >5000 rich area

Figure 5 Wind energy division (a) and wave energy division (b). , Indigent area, where the wind energy less than 50 W m-2, or the wave energy less
1 2 1
than 1 kW m ; , available area, where the wind energy is 50–150 W m , or the wave energy 1–6 kW m ; , subrich area, where the wind energy is
150–200 W/m2, or the wave energy 6–15 W m1; , rich area, where the wind energy larger than 200 W m2, or the wave energy larger than 15 kW m1.

(Figure 5(b)). 5 Conclusions

As Figure 5 shows, the South China Sea is a favorable
region of wind energy, with rich areas located in the Luzon
Strait and its western waters, the southeast sea of Indochina
(the traditional wind region in South China Sea) and the
center of Taiwan Strait, and relatively rich areas located in
the center of South China Sea, appearing NE-SW direction.
In addition, the Fujian coast waters are mainly the available
areas for wind energy resources.
Viewing from worldwide sea, the East China Sea and
South China Sea are not in an advantageous region of wave
energy resources [26], which is also verified from Figure 5(b).
Though there are no rich areas of wave energy resources in
the East China Sea and South China Sea, it is clear that
most areas of the East China Sea and South China Sea are
the available areas of wave energy resources, and the ocean
off the east of Taiwan Island, the Luzon Strait and the cen-
tral part of north-central South China Sea waters are the
relatively rich areas of wave energy resources.
Implementing wind power, wave power, or wind and
waves combined power generation on the remote island is
an effective way to realize power self-sufficiency, and has
broad prospects.
1) The annual average of wind energy density in most
areas of the East China Sea and South China Sea is larger
than 100 W m2, with the big value area located in the line
of Ryukyu Islands-Luzon Strait-Pullo Cecir de Terre and
Taiwan Strait, basically above 300 W m-2, and the figures of
annual average wave energy density are consistent with
those of wind energy density in corresponding period.
2) The East China Sea and South China Sea are the high
frequency areas where the wind energy density is over 50 W
m-2 and wave energy density over 2 kW m1.The frequency
of wind energy lager than 50W m2 is basically above 70%,
while the frequency of wave energy density larger than
2 kW m1 is basically above 50%. Further more, the fre-
quency in the central part and south of Yellow Sea is lower
than that of the East China Sea and South China Sea, and it
is relatively low in Bohai Sea and northern Yellow Sea
overall.
3) The stability of wind energy density is overall better
than that of wave energy density in the East China Sea and
South China Sea, and the stability of wind and wave energy
densities in July is the worst of the year.
 Zheng C W, et al. Sci China Tech Sci
4) During the recent 22 years, both the wind energy
density and wave energy density in most of the East China
Sea and South China Sea appear a significant linear in-
creasing tendency year by year, only in some sporadic
cases waters have no significant change. And the areas
where the increasing tendency of wind energy is relatively
strong are located in Taiwan Strait, Luzon Strait and Tsu- 10
shima Strait, while increasing tendency of wave energy
density is concentrated in the region of Ryukyu Is- 11
lands-Luzon Strait.
5) The South China Sea is the advantageous region of 12
wind energy, with rich areas located in the Luzon Strait and
its western waters, the southeast sea of Indochina (the tradi-
13
tional wind region in the South China Sea) and the central
part of Taiwan Strait, and relatively rich areas located in the
central part of South China Sea, appearing NE-SW direction, 14
and the Fujian coast waters are mainly the available areas
for wind energy resources. Though the East China Sea and
15
South China Sea are not in an advantageous region of wave
energy resources, most of the East China Sea and South
China Sea are the available areas of wave energy resources, 16
and the ocean off the east of Taiwan Island, the Luzon Strait
and the central part of north-central South China Sea waters
are the relatively rich areas of wave energy resources, while 17
the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea are the poor areas of wind
energy and wave energy resources.
18
This work was supported by the National key basic research development
program of China (Grant No. 2010CB950400).
19
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